Paraglider pilot falls 25 meters: shock accident in Vielist!

Paraglider pilot falls 25 meters: shock accident in Vielist!

A serious accident occurred on September 7, 2025 at the Vielist airfield in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: A 50-year-old paraglider pilot fell 25 meters into the depths and was seriously injured. Loud n-tv The cause of the accident was due to twisted lines on the paraglider. Although the pilot noticed the twisted lines before takeoff and aborted the takeoff process, she was already being pulled into the air by an electric winch. This caused the glider to not open properly and she fell to the ground.

The 50-year-old's condition is serious and she was immediately taken to hospital by rescue helicopter. The police have already started to investigate the cause of the accident in more detail and are securing traces at the scene of the accident.

Wave of accidents while paragliding

There is particular concern about the increase in paragliding accidents. Just a few days before the incident in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, four people died in Austria within a very short period of time. A 56-year-old German crashed on the Emberger Alm when his paraglider collapsed shortly after take-off. He was no longer able to deploy the rescue parachute and fell about 60 meters into rocky terrain ZDF reported. Before this tragic incident, three people, including a ten-year-old girl and a 55-year-old from Germany, had already been fatally injured in other accidents.

This raises questions about paragliding safety. While the sport itself carries risks, experts show that fatal accidents are comparatively rarer than in other air sports. However, paragliding requires a high level of personal responsibility and risk awareness. In addition, paragliders do not provide a protective cockpit, which leads to more frequent injury accidents, as shown by data from Oasis paragliding emerges.

Ensure safety

Statistically speaking, there are around 25,000 active paragliders in Germany. Over the past decade, an average of nine people per year suffered fatal injuries, while around 120 accidents involving serious injuries were recorded. The technical safety of paragliders has increased significantly in recent years thanks to strict testing standards and improved back protection systems. Modern flying can be made safer through the use of proven equipment and sound training.

Nevertheless, the pilot's personal responsibility remains crucial. Carelessness and overconfidence can quickly lead to catastrophic consequences, which is why a thorough assessment of the flight conditions is essential. In light of recent incidents, both experienced and new paragliders should approach their flights with particular caution and caution.